Adjustable back chair



W. A. DUVALL ET AL ADJUSTABLE BACK CHAIR July 19, 1938.

Filed May 21, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l I July 19, 1938. w..A. DUVALL ET AL 2,124,357

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Patented July 19, 1938 r 2,124,367 ADJUSTABLE BACK onAm William A. Duvall, Cleveland, ohio, and Clarence A. Van Derveer, Michigan City, Ind., assignors, by mesne assignments, to S.'Karpen &Bros a corporation of Illinois Application May 21, 1936, Serial No. 81,114 3Claims. (cuss-161) S AT T. 0F-F'ljc This invention relates particularly to adjustable-back chairs or the like. 1

A primary object of the invention is to provide such a chair having improved and simplified means for adjusting and locking the back in position. I

' A chair, of this character is .desired mainly because of the comfort andconvenience which it affords, and, a purpose of this invention is to provide a chair which isvery easy and convenient to operate and which is easily yieldable to the particular desire of the individual who uses the chair. A further purpose of the invention is to provide a chair which has simple sturdy mechanism and is not likely togetout of order.

I The accompanying drawings show the invention in an embodiment particularly adapted for use in busses, coaches, and the like, but it is to be understood that the invention is applicable generally to chairs or seats equipped with adjustable backs.

In the drawings--- 7 Figure 1 is a front view in elevation showing the chair completely upholstered; Figure 2 is a side view in elevation of the completed chair; Figure 3 is a side view in elevation with all upholstery omitted showing an embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 is a detail view showing the locking means in released position; Figure 5 is a sectional view of the locking means taken along line 5 of Figure 3.

In the illustration given, A represents the chair-frame; B represents the adjustable back of the chair; and C represents mechanism for locking the back in one of several positions.

The chair-frame A may be of any suitable construction. In the embodiment shown the chairframe has legs A and end members A and is adapted to support the cushion seat A End members A include a top member In which has a smooth curved shape so that it is suitable as an arm rest. If desired an attachment may be added to make a more comfortable armrest.

Also in end members A are thesubstantially horizontal members I2 and I3, and attached to these is a flat vertical frame member M.

The chair-back B may be of any suitable construction. The embodiment shown has standards l5 pivotally fastened to the frame and free to move forwardly and backwardly. Short frame members l6 made integral with the top frame member lll make a convenient place to attach standards IE to the frame. The standards I5 may be pivotally attached to members IS in any suitable manner Dependingfrom standards 15 are the extensions |'l.

The chair-backs B are equipped with some convenient type of cushion Hi. The particular shape andkind o-f cushion may be selected according to the type desired. I

The locking mechanism 0 is illustrated more clearly ,in Figures 3 and 4. Alocking arm. l9 has its rearward end pivotally attached to the end of the extension l1, and is provided nearlts forward end. with a longitudinalslot 20 and spacedlocking notches 2|. l

Secured to the vertical'frame member M is a sleeve 22 adapted 'to receive the forward portion of the. locking arm l9. As :in theembodiment shown, the insideof the sleeve may be'the vertical frame member itself, and theioutside and bottom of the sleeve may be a metal piece attached to the frame member l4. Extending through the sides of sleeve 22 and engaging the slot 20 is a stud or bolt 23. The top of sleeve 2| is open and provided with notches 24. It is understood that the sleeve may be omitted and the stud alone be relied upon to guide the locking arm; however, the preferred embodiment has the advantage of increased strength and durability.

A release lever 25 having its handle protruding at the front of the chair-frame has its rearward end pivotally attached to the vertical frame member I4. Attached to release lever 25 are teeth 26 which are of such size and shape and are so spaced as to engage notches 24 in the top of sleeve 22 and also locking notches 2| in the locking arm l9. Such engagement occurs when release lever 25 is in its lowered position. A spring 21 is secured to the lever 25 and to the frame, thus tending to draw the lever 25 to its lowered position. The locking arm I9 is drawn in a rearward direction by the back-spring 28. It will be seen that in drawing arm IS in a rearward direction the back-spring 28 is effectively urging the adjustable back to a more forward position.

In the operation of the mechanism, the lever 25 is normally held both by its own weight and by the spring 21 in its lowered position so that the teeth 26 engage the sleeve notches 24 and the locking notches 2|, thus securely holding arm I9, and thereby the adjustable back, in fixed position. When it is desired to tilt the back to a greater extent, the release lever 25 protruding in front of the frame may be raised with but slight pressure. This operates to disengage teeth 26 from the locking notches 2|, and locking arm I9 becomes free to move longitudinally. Then by leaning back against the adjustable back it may be tilted to any desired angle.

, The back-spring 28 keeps the adjustable back from falling when the locking mechanism is released, and when, after the desired inclination is reached, the release lever 25 is again restored to lowered position, the back-spring 28 aids in pulling up the adjustable back to a position Where teeth 26 will engage a pair of teeth in arm 19. Or, if the passenger continues tolean backward against the chair-back after he has allowed the release lever 25 to assume its lowered position, the chair-back may continue to be tilted until the teeth 26 come into engagement with the next spaced notches, at which point the chair-back will be locked. When the chair is unoccupied, or the passenger is not leaning backward, the chairback may be made to assumea substantially vertical position by merely raising the release lever 25. Raising lever 25 releases the locking mechanism and the back-spring 28 then operates to'pull the chair-back forward.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

We claim:

1. In combination: a chair-frame having on one end portion a sleeve formed on one side by a frame member and on the other side and bottom by an angular metal piece attached to the frame member, said sleeve having a stud extending through its sides and being notched at its top; a

back pivotally mounted on said frame and equipped with a depending extension; a locking arm having its rear end pivoted to said depending extension and its forward portion resting in said sleeve and provided with a longitudinal slot which is engaged by said stud, said arm being equipped with spaced notches; a release lever pivotally supported at its rearward end on the frame and provided with teeth adapted to engage the notches in said locking arm and sleeve when said lever is in lowered position.

2. In combination: a chair-frame having on one end portion a sleeve comprising a metal piece securely attached to said end portion, said sleeve having a stud extending therethrough and having spaced notches at its top portion; a back pivotally mounted on said frame and equipped with a depending extension; a locking arm having its rear end connected to said depending extension and having its forward end disposed in said sleeve, the forward top end of said arm being equipped with spaced notches; a spring connected at its one end to said arm and at its other end to said frame, said spring being arranged to urge said arm rearwardly; and a releaselever pivotally supported on the frame at its rearward end and provided with a tooth adapted to engage a notch in said arm and sleeve when said lever is in lowered position.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which the notches in said arm and sleeve are at equal spacing and in which said release lever has a pair of teeth adapted to engage said notches for locking said arm and piece at two points along their lengths.

WILLIAM A. DUVALL. CLARENCE A. VAN DERVEER. 

